Second Class Requirements

Second Class scouts work on building their outdoor survival and camping skills. Compass work, nature observation, camp tools, and swimming are areas where new skills are mastered and demonstrated. A second class scout, having completed all the requirements, should be able to lead a hike, care for his own equipment, set up a campsite, and perform basic first aid.

Individual requirement items for Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, and 1st Class ranks may be worked on simultaneously depending on your program offerings but the ranks must be earned in the proper sequence.

Since joining, participate in five separate troop/patrol activities, three of which include overnight camping. These five activities do not include troop or patrol meetings. On at least two of the three campouts, spend the night in a tent that you pitch or other structure that you help erect (such as a lean-to, snow cave, or tepee).

Explain the principles of Leave No Trace and tell how you practiced them on a campout or outing. This outing must be different from the one used for Tenderfoot requirement 1c.

On one of these campouts, select a location for your patrol site and recommend it to your patrol leader, senior patrol leader, or troop guide. Explain what factors you should consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.

Explain when it is appropriate to use a fire for cooking or other purposes and when it would not be appropriate to do so.

Use the tools listed in Tenderfoot requirement 3d to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel wood for a cooking fire.

At an approved outdoor location and time, use the tinder, kindling, and fuel wood from Second Class requirement 2b to demonstrate how to build a fire. Unless prohibited by local fire restrictions, light the fire. After allowing the flames to burn safely for at least two minutes, safely extinguish the flames with minimal impact to the fire site.

Explain when it is appropriate to use a lightweight stove and when it is appropriate to use a propane stove. Set up a lightweight stove or propane stove. Unless prohibited by local fire restrictions, light the stove. Describe the safety procedures for using these types of stoves.

On one campout, plan and cook one hot breakfast or lunch, selecting foods from MyPlate or the current USDA nutritional model. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Demonstrate how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.

Demonstrate tying the sheet bend knot. Describe a situation in which you would use this knot.

Demonstrate tying the bowline knot. Describe a situation in which you would use this knot.

Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Use a map to point out and tell the meaning of five map symbols.

Using a compass and map together, take a 5-mile hike (or 10 miles by bike) approved by your adult leader and your parent or guardian.

Describe some hazards or injuries that you might encounter on your hike and what you can do to help prevent them.

Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass or an electronic device.

Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (such as birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, or mollusks) found in your local area or camping location. You may show evidence by tracks, signs, or photographs you have taken.

Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.

Demonstrate your ability to pass the BSA beginner test: Jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth, level off and swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, then return to your starting place.

Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects.

Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible. Explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim.

Demonstrate first aid for the following:

Object in the eye

Bite of a warm-blooded animal

Puncture wounds from a splinter, nail, and fishhook

Serious burns (partial thickness, or second-degree)

Heat exhaustion

Shock

Heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, and hyperventilation

Show what to do for hurry cases of stopped breathing, stroke, severe bleeding, and ingested poisoning.

Tell what you can do while on a campout or hike to prevent or reduce the occurrence of the injuries listed in Second Class requirements 6a and 6b.

Explain what to do in case of accidents that require emergency response in the home and backcountry. Explain what constitutes an emergency and what information you will need to provide to a responder.

Tell how you should respond if you come upon the scene of a vehicular accident.

After completing Tenderfoot requirement 6c, be physically active at least 30 minutes each day for five days a week for four weeks. Keep track of your activities.

Share your challenges and successes in completing Second Class requirement 7a. Set a goal for continuing to include physical activity as part of your daily life and develop a plan for doing so.

Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family, and explain the dangers of substance addictions. Report to your Scoutmaster or other adult leader in your troop about which parts of the Scout Oath and Scout Law relate to what you learned.

With your parents or guardian, decide on an amount of money that you would like to earn, based on the cost of a specific item you would like to purchase. Develop a written plan to earn the amount agreed upon and follow that plan; it is acceptable to make changes to your plan along the way. Discuss any changes made to your original plan and whether you met your goal.

At a minimum of three locations, compare the cost of the item for which you are saving to determine the best place to purchase it. After completing Second Class requirement 8c, decide if you will use the amount that you earned as originally intended, save all or part of it, or use it for another purpose.

Participate in two hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout Oath.

Explain the three R's of personal safety and protection.

Describe bullying; tell what the appropriate response is to someone who is bullying you or another person.

Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived four different points of the Scout Law (not to include those used for Tenderfoot requirement 9) in your everyday life.

While working toward the Second Class rank, and after completing Tenderfoot requirement 10, participate in a Scoutmaster conference.

Successfully complete your board of review for the Second Class rank.

Alternate requirements for Second Class Rank are available for Scouts with physical or mental disabilities if they meet the criteria listed in Alternate Requirements for Ranks

I was a member of Troop 27 of the Quinnepiac Council in Yalesville, Wallingford, Connecticut from
1967-1973. It sure brings back plenty of fond memories looking over this site. I joined scouting
because I wanted to get out of my house and experience the huge world out there of camping,
hiking, learn how to make a fire, cook over a fire, set up camp, whittle, and so much more. It was a
great way to start out a man's life. I met many a good scout and leaders as well.

Sep 14, 2016 - Anthony He

Hi, I'm a First Class Scout Patrol Leader. I am here trying to
advance 2 members of my patrol to 2nd class. I don't quite get
the logic of req. 11 : While working toward the Second Class rank,
and after completing Tenderfoot requirement 10, participate in a
Scoutmaster conference. Can someone help me?

Sep 29, 2016 - Tina

Anthony He-- every rank advancement requires a Scoutmaster conference. So in order to achieve the 2nd Class rank, a scout must have earned Tenderfoot (which required a Tenderfoot Scoutmaster conference--requirement 10), and now, while working on the 2nd class rank, a new Scoutmaster conference is required before the board of review. Hope that helps!

Oct 11, 2016 - SM

I'm comparing the old second-class and new second-class requirements. The new 2d requirement is similar to the old 2f requirement, talking about stoves. But, the new requirement talks about the difference between a lightweight stove and a propane stove. However, I can't find anything in the new handbook about the difference between the two. I consider a propane stove a lightweight stove, so I'm not sure how to explain the difference. Any help you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks!

Oct 11, 2016 - Scouter Paul

@SM - Propane stoves are shown on page 303 and 305. Lightweight
stoves are shown on 392 and 393. Lightweight stoves are usually
used for backpacking while propane is used for established
campsites (or 'car camping').

Oct 11, 2016 - SM

Thank you! That makes sense. I wish they would have been more clear in the cooking chapter. Since the requirement is a cooking requirement, we were looking in the cooking chapter, not in the tools chapter. These lightweight stoves are definitely far more lightweight than a camping stove! I appreciate your help. This has been a "go-to" website for me for several years now - thanks so much for maintaining it!

Oct 19, 2016 - Henri

I would appreciate any suggestion on how to conduct a Troop level activity for 7c. Any material
or program suggestions would be helpful. Thank you.

Nov 02, 2016 - Lawrence D Knight

Oct 19, - Henri, If your local school has a dare program see if
you can tap into that, in my area the schools run the dare program
and afterwords the boys show me their certifications.Drug Abuse
Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)if not asked the local police
department or a scout friendly Doctor to come in on a troop night
and discuss this with the troop,

Feb 28, 2017 - Layne

What do you do for a non-swimmer? I have worked with a now 14 yr old for over 2 years and can't get him to get in over his head with out a life jacket!

Feb 28, 2017 - Scouter Paul

@Layne - Please read the "Alternate Requirements for Ranks"
linked to above. His parents should be involved with this and
the Scout will either need to have a health-care professional
document his disability, or he will need to complete the
requirement in order to advance.You might find some helpful
tips on this page.